Hydraulic reciprocating pump



p 1957 J. T. RIGDON HYDRAULIC RECIPROCATING PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil ed Oct. 11, 1965 INVENTQR James-[P190 011 Sept. 19, 1967 J. T. RIGDON HYDRAULIC RECIPRO CATING PUMP Filed Oct. 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Jame: l'fligdofl.

United States Patent 3,342,137 HYDRAULIC RECIPROCATIN G PUMP James T. Rigdon, 2317 Middlecoif Drive, Mississippi City, Miss. 39562 Filed Oct. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 494,700 Claims. (Cl. 103-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This pump pumps abrasive fluid without this fluid coming in contact with the pump cylinders and piston. It has an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed cylinder in which is located a piston that is reciprocated by any desired means. Each end of the cylinder is secured to a separate cylindrical chamber made up of a lower chamber and an upper chamber. Each cylindrical chamber is closed by a bellows of unique design. The horizontally disposed cylinder and portions of the cylindrical chambers which are above the bellows are filled with transmission fluid. To maintain a suitable quantity of transmission fluid there is a transmission fluid reservoir connected to each cylindrical chamber through a corresponding vacuum relief valve and pressure relief valve. The portions of the cylindrical containers that are below the bellows are connected through pipes and check valves to a source of abrasive fluid and to a discharge pipe. A leak detector detects leaks of the hydraulic fluid.

This invention relates to hydraulic pumps, and more particularly to hydraulic pumps of the reciprocating type.

While there may be other hydraulic reciprocating pumps, none are known to be used in the oil drilling industry where there is a great need for a pump of this type that is so constructed that it can pump abrasive fluids without the fluids coming in contact with the pump cylinders, piston rods and the like, thereby wearing out these parts and requiring their replacement after but a short perioid of use of the pump. The reason for this being that in drilling in oil fields the pumps are sometimes used to pump mud and sand which with the ordinary pump results in frequent breakdown and the resultant loss of time, and thus money, While expensive pump parts are being replaced.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character herein described, that is so constructed that the mud and sand, which is drawn up into the pump during this use, cannot get up into the cylinders and related parts of the pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump embodying a vertically disposed chamber in which is located a bellows-like device that will be so activated by the cylinder and piston of the power unit as to pump mud and sand without this material ever being able to reach the cylinder and piston of the power unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump to which an electric alarm is connected in order to advise the operator of the pump if the bellows becomes ruptured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump having an electric alarm that will automatically warn the operator of the pump should a leak ever occur in the pump in order that he can stop the pump before any damage is done to this mechanism by the entry of mud and sand into the cylinder of the pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump having a plurality of check valves so connected to the pump as to provide additional security against mud and the like from ever entering the horizontally disposed cylinder and damaging the cylinder wall and/ or the piston and its related mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic reciprocating pump especially adapted to oil drilling operations in which mud and the like are removed by suction from the mud tank, the pump having a horizontally disposed cylinder on which is located a reciprocating piston activated by a power unit, and a vertically disposed cylinder projecting downward from each end of the aforesaid horizontally disposed cylinder, the two vertically disposed cylinders each containing a bellows-like mechanism therein that will become activated upon the starting of the power unit that will pump mud and the like from the mud tank without the mud ever being able to reach the horizontally disposed cylinder and the mechanism contained therein.

Other and further objects of this invention will come to mind upon reading of the specification and examination of the appended drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of this invention broken open in part in order that its internal mechanism may be seen.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of that part of this invention that is enclosed within the arrowed ellipse and indicated by the numeral 2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontally disposed sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of that part of this invention that is enclosed within the arrowed ellipse and indicated by'the numeral 4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontally disposed sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the leak detecting portion of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of the suction discharge pipes of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is a top view of two of the hydraulic reciprocating pumps, since two of the pumps are usually activated by one power unit.

The illustrated invention is best shown as a complete unit in FIGURE 1 of the drawings where it is seen to embody an inverted U-shaped pump assembly 10 consisting of a horizontally disposed water-cooled cylinder 11 in which is slidably located the piston 12 to which is secured one end of the piston rod 13 that has its other end connected to a desirable source of power such as an internal combustion engine. Each end of the aforesaid horizontally disposed cylinder 11 is secured to the upper end flange 14 of a vertically disposed cylindrical chamber 15 by a plurality of spaced bolts 16. The lower end flange 17 of the aforesaid vertically disposed cylindrical chamber '15 is likewise bolted, but in this instance, to the periphery of the flat cylindrical bellows support plate and the flange of the cylindrical lower chamber 18 of this invention by the plurality of spaced bolts 19. As previously noted by the above wording of this specification, there are two of the vertically disposed cylindrical chambers 15 and their associated parts and mechanism, including the bellows mechanism 20 which could even be removed from the invention without affecting its operation other than the fact that the fluid would enter the cylinder.

Continuing to look at FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is a vacuum relief valve 21 located at each end and secured to the upper surface of the afore said inverted U-shaped assembly 10 to which it is suitably connected, while a pressure relief valve 22 is suitably secured on top of and connected to one of the aforesaid vacuum relief valves 21 while an alike pressure relief valve indicated by the same reference number 22 is likewise secured to the top of the other one of the aforesaid vacuum relief valves 21. A hydraulic fluid reserve tank 23 is located both above and between the two aforesaid vacuum relief valves and the pressure relief valves to which it is connected by the vertically disposed tube or pipe 24 which is provided with a horizontally disposed branch tube or pipe 25 that leads to the aforesaid pressure relief valve 22. The upper end of each one of the two vertically disposed pipes 24 is actually connected to the bottom and center of what I call a restrictor 26 which has its upper surface centrally connected to the bottom of the aforesaid hydraulic fluid reserve tank 23. Each aforesaid restrictor 26 consists of a flat circular piece of heavy rubber having a centrally located slit 27 therein that will open after some resistance, thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid to flow in or out of the aforesaid hydraulic fluid reserve tank 23. This just described restrictor 26 is shown in detail in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Looking now at both FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that this invention is provided with two leak detectors that are indicated in their entirety by the reference number 28. This part of this invention is located horizontally off to one side of the aforesaid vertically disposed tube or pipe 24. Each one of the two aforesaid leak detectors 28 embodies a tube 29 in the normal center of which is located a slidable piston 30 in one end of which is screwed the slidable rod 31 that has a Bakelite plate 32 on the opposite end thereof. The rod 31 passes through and is supported by the end member 33 in which is horizontally located two spaced openings 34 therein. A compression spring 35 encompasses the aforesaid rod 31 between the ends of the aforesaid slidable piston 30 and the fixed end member 33, as one can see by looking at FIGURE 2 of the drawings where it is also seen that a second compression spring 36 is located between the other end of piston 30 and the inner end of the end member 37 in which is screwed the externally threaded end of the nipple 38 which in this construction is integral with the aforesaid pipe or tube 24. A housing 39 encompasses the previously mentioned Bakelite plate 33 and provides support for the vertically disposed electric contacts 40 of which there are four in this design, two on each side of the aforesaid Bakelite plate 32. The aforesaid electric contacts 40 are in horizontal spaced relation to each other, and are connected with but one exception to the pressure and vacuum signal lights 41 and 42, respectively, that are only shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings by the electric wires 43. The one exception is that one of the aforesaid electric contacts 40 is connected by the wire 44 indirectly to the negative source of direct current electricity.

It has been previously stated that this invention contains two bellows mechanisms 20 which are shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Each one of the mechanisms is mounted within the aforesaid cylindrical lower chambers 18 of this invention. Each bellows mechanism 20 embodies the previously mentioned, but not characterized until now, support plate 45 from the lower surface of which extends the bellows 46 which is provided with a plurality of internal and external steel rings 47 and 48 that prevent sidewise expansion or contraction of the bellows. A horizontally disposed electric probe 49 encompassed by insulation except on each end which is mounted in one side of the aforesaid bellows support plate 45 with the inner end 50 of the probe extending into the centrally located tubular hub 51 of the aforesaid bellows support plate 45 with which it, the hub, is integral. A vertically disposed bearing 52 is integrally formed in the center of the hub 51 and is supported by a trio of equally and radially spaced arms 53, as clearly shown in FIGURE of the drawing. The vertically disposed shaft 54 slidably passes through the bearing 5'2. The lower end of the shaft '54 is secured to the suction valve head 55 that has its periphery secured to the lower end of the aforesaid bellows 46, while the upper end. of the same shaft 54 is secured to the center of the discharge valve head 56, thereby completing the construction of the aforesaid bellows mechanism 20.

Again looking at FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that each one of the aforesaid lower chambers 18 of this invention is provided with two externally mounted check valves 57 which are connected to the pipes 58 and 59. A manually operated relief valve 60 is also connected to this invention in the manner shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The actual construction of this invention of mine has now been thoroughly described in detail with the exception of stating that the end 61 of pipe 59 is connected to the mud tank from which the mud is to be sucked, while the pipe 62 leads to the opposite pump cylinder and the number 63 indicates the discharge pipe of this invention.

While FIGURE 8 shows suction and discharge pipes connected to two of these herein described hydraulic reciprocating pumps that I have invented, no attempt will be made to explain each pipe and connection shown in the aforesaid FIGURE 8 as the pipe and connections will be well understood by those experienced in the art to which this invention belongs.

The way in which this hydraulic reciprocating pump works is quite clear when one examines FIGURE 1 of the drawings where the flow of fluids and the like are clearly indicated by the arrowed lines, which show that when the piston 12 is moving back and forth the hydraulic fluid in the cylindrical chamber 15 is in vertical motion, thus raising and lowering the discharge valve head 56 of the bellows mechanism 20 which is activated by reason of the fact that the aforesaid shaft 54 is secured to both the discharge valve head 56 and the suction valve head 55 which as previously stated, has its periphery secured to the bellows 46 which on contracting and expanding because of the up and down action of the aforesaid discharge valve 56 against which the hydraulic fluid acts, causes the bellows 46 to pump the mud from pipe 56 through this invention on out through the discharge pipe 63. The pupose of the restrictor 26 is to offer enough resistance to allow piston 30 in leak detector to activate when fluid is sucked into or expelled from cylinder to or from reserve tank due to leakage. This activation contacts points and flashes light on panel near operator so that he will know when a leak occurs and in what portion of the pump it has occurred. The restrictor has a small opening not previously mentioned. Without this bleeder opening the restrictor could possibly hold piston 30 in activation and light would stay on at panel board. This small opening will relieve any pressure held by the restrictor and allow piston 30 to return to a neutral position by means of springs 35 and 36.

Relief valve 60 can be set to relieve at desired pressure automatically. This relief will be set at a slightly lower pressure than relief valve 22 so that it will relieve due to a restriction in the discharge line and the relief valve 22 will relieve due to a restriction caused by closing of valve head 56. The hydraulic pump cylinder automatically maintains the correct amount of fluid regardless of any leakage so long as there is a supply of oil in the reserve tanks 23. This is done by the valve heads 55 and 56 and relief valves 21 and 22.

For example: The valve heads 55 and 56 will not close completely on valve seat 51 so long as no leakage occurs. However, if a leak should occur in the hydraulic cylinder, there will be a shortage of fluid in that particular cylinder, This will cause the suction valve head 55 to close on valve seat 51 as the piston 12 draws fluid from chamber in turn causing vacuum pressure to build up. This vacuum pressure will cause vacuum relief 21 to open and allow more fluid to be drawn into cylinder from the reserve tank, thereby replacing fluid lost by said leakage.

Should too much fluid get into either cylinder, as would occur if fluid should leak by piston 12, then the reverse would occur. The discharge valve head 56 would close against seat 51 causing pressure to build up and cause relief valve 22 to open and allow excess fluid to flow to reserve tank.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the detailed construction of this invention of mine, as well as in the location and number of the various parts, and the detailed shape of the parts of the invention may also be changed in so long as the changes and modifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character described, comprising an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed cylinder in which is located a piston that is given reciprocating motion by any desired means, and each end of the said cylinder being removably secured to a separate cylindrical chamber that has its lower end secured to a cylindrical lower chamber and a bellows mechanism embodying a vertically disposed sliding rod in the center thereof on the bottom end of which is secured a suction valve head having its periphery secured to a bellows, and the upper end of the said rod being secured to the center of a discharge valve head, and the said bellows mechanism being located in each of the cylindrical lower chambers, the said bellows mechanism "being activated by hydraulic fluid located in the first mentioned cylindrical chambers, and pipes connecting the said lower chambers with a mud tank from which mud and the like is pumped when the said piston is activated, the mud being pumped through the said lower chambers and on out a discharge pipe.

2. A hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character described, comprising an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed water cooled cylinder in which is located a piston that is given reciprocating motion by any desired means, and each end of the cylinder being removably secured to a separate cylindrical chamber that has its lower end secured to a cylindrical lower chamber and a bellows mechanism embodying a vertically disposed sliding rod in the center thereof on the bottom end of which is secured a suction valve head having its periphery secured to a bellows, and the upper end of the said rod being secured to the center of a discharge valve head, and the said bellows mechanism being located in each of the cylindrical lower chambers, the said bellows mechanism being activated by hydraulic fluid located in the first mentioned cylindrical chambers, and pipes con necting the said lower chambers with a mud tank from which mud and the like is pumped when the said piston is activated, the mud being pumped through the said lower chambers and on out a discharge pipe.

3. A hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character described, comprising an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed Water cooled cylinder in which is located a piston that is given reciprocating motion by any desired means, and each end of the cylinder being removably secured to a separate cylindrical chamber that has its lower end secured to a cylindrical lower chamber and a bellows mechanism embodying a vertically disposed sliding rod in the center thereof on the bottom end of which is secured a suction valve head having its periphery secured to a bellows, and the upper end of the said rod being secured to the center of a discharge valve head, and the said bellows mechanism being located in each of the cylindrical lower chambers, the said bellows mechanism being activated by hydraulic fluid located in the first mentioned cylindrical chambers to the upper end of each one of which is secured a vacuum relief valve on top of which is secured a pressure relief valve, and both of the valves on top of each chamber being connected by tubing or pipe to a hydraulic fluid reserve tank, and pipes connecting the said lower chambers with a mud tank from which mud and the like is pumped when the said piston is activate-d, the mud being pumped through the said lower chambers and on out a discharge pipe.

4. A hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character described, comprising an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed water cooled cylinder in which is located a piston that is given reciprocating motion by any desired means, and each end of the cylin der being removably secured to a separate cylindrical chamber that has its lower end secured to a cylindrical lower chamber and a bellows mechanism embodying a vertically disposed sliding rod in the center thereof on the bottom end of which is secured a suction valve head having its periphery secured to a bellows, and the upper end of the said rod being secured to the center of a discharge valve head, and the said bellows mechanism being located in each of the cylindrical lower chambers, the said bellows mechanism being activated by hydraulic fluid located in the first mentioned cylindrical chambers to the upper end of each one of which is secured a vacuum relief valve on top of which is secured a pressure relief valve, and both of the valves on top of each chamber being connected by tubing or pipe to a hydraulic fluid reserve tank, and pipes connecting the said lower chambers with a mud tank from which mud and the like is pumped when the said piston is activated, the mud being pumped through the discharge valves secured to the lower and outer sides of each of the two cylindrical lower chambers, through the chambers and on out a discharge pipe.

5. A hydraulic reciprocating pump of the character described, comprising an inverted U-shaped assembly embodying a horizontally disposed water cooled. cylinder in which is located a piston that is given reciprocating motion by any desired means, and each end of the cylinder being removably secured to a separate cylindrical chamber that has its lower end secured to a cylindrical lower chamber and a bellows mechanism embodying a vertically disposed sliding rod in the center thereof on the bottom end of which is secured a suction valve head having its periphery secured to a bellows, and the upper end of the said rod being secured to the center of a discharge valve head, and the said bellows mechanism being located in each of the cylindrical lower chambers, the said bellows mechanism being activated by hydraulic fluid located in the first mentioned cylindrical chambers to the upper end of each one of which is secured a vacuum relief valve on top of which is secured a pressure relief valve, and both of the valves on top of each chamber being connected by tubing or pipe to a hydraulic fluid reserve tank, and pipes connecting the said lower chambers with a mud tank from which mud and the like is pumped when the said piston is activated, the mud being pumped through the discharge valves secured to the lower and outer sides of each of the two cylindrical lower chambers, through the chambers and on out a discharge pipe, and leak detecting and indicating means adapted to each of the first said cylindrical chambers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 482,840 9/1892 Booth 103-44 862,867 8/1907 Eggleston 230-50 1,927,587 9/1953 Hacker 103-44 2,703,055 3/1955 Veth et a1 103152 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HYDRAULIC RECIPROCATING PUMP OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING AN INVERTED U-SHAPED ASSEMBLY EMBODYING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CYLINDERR IN WHICH IS LOCATED A PISTON THAT IS GIVEN RECIPROCATING MOTION BY ANY DESIRED MEANS, AND EACH END OF THE SAID CYLINDER BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO A SEPARATE CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER THAT HAS ITS LOWER END SECURED TO A CYLINDRICAL LOWER CHAMBER AND A BELLOWS MECHANISM EMBODYING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SLIDING ROD IN THE CENTER THEREOF ON THE BOTTOM END OF WHICH IS SECURED A SUCTION VALVE HEAD HAVING ITS PERIPHERY SECURED TO A BELLOWS, AND THE UPPER END OF THE SAID ROD BEING SECURED TO THE CENTER OF A DISCHARGE VALVE HEAD, AND THE SAID BELLOWS MECHANISM BEING LOCATED IN EACH OF THE CYLINDRICAL LOWER CHAMBERS, THE SAID BELLOWS MECHANISM BEING ACTIVATED BY HYDRAULIC FLUID LOCATED IN THE FIRST MENTIONED CYLINDRICAL CHAMBERS, AND PIPES CONNECTING THE SAID LOWER CHAMBERS WITH A MUD TANK FROM WHICH MUD AND THE LIKE IS PUMPED WHEN THE SAID PISTON IS ACTIVATED, THE MUD BEING PUMPED THROUGH THE SAID LOWER CHAMBERS AND ON OUT A DISCHARGE PIPE. 